Drapery pocket

ABSTRACT

A drapery pocket for concealed support of a drapery track, and comprising a fastening plate attachable to a window-top frame member inside a building. A drapery track support panel extends horizontally from the fastening plate and may be multiapertured for ventilation therethrough. Ceiling tile is supported below the level of the drapery track by a retaining panel projecting vertically from the support panel interior edge. The retaining panel also projects above the support panel for wired attachment of the drapery pocket to the building frame.

United States Patent [191 Arnett DRAPERY POCKET [76] Inventor: Robert W. Arnett, 1030 Stoneridge Dr., Pasadena, Calif. 91 I05 [22] Filed: Nov. 23, I970 [21] Appl. No.: 92,065

[52] [1.8. CI 52/37; 52/710 [51] Int. Cl E041) 1/38 [58] Field of Search 52/235, 710, 484, 437, 52/37, 36. 496, 39; 248/273; 2| 1/123; 98/40 D, 40 DL, 88

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,879,457 9/1932 Paulsen 52/496 197L915 8/1934 Mekler........ 2,781,557 2/1957 Ericson 93/40 D 3,103,868 9/1963 Kodaras 98/40 D 3,513,613 5/1970 Jones 52/496 3,596,425 8/1971 Kodaras 52/484 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 961,203 5/1950 France 52/485 1 July 15, 1975 12/1964 France ..52/484 2/1962 Switzerland ..52/485 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Custom Fabricated Curtain Walls, Sweet's Catalog, 1962, Section 3a/Cu, page 31.

Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Assistant Examiner-Henry E. Raduazo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Flam & Flam ABSTRACT A drapery pocket for concealed support of a drapery track, and comprising a fastening plate attachable to a window-top frame member inside a building. A drapery track support panel extends horizontally from the fastening plate and may be multiapertured for ventilation therethrough. Ceiling tile is supported below the level of the drapery track by a retaining panel projecting vertically from the support panel interior edge. The retaining panel also projects above the support panel for wired attachment of the drapery pocket to the building frame.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures DRAPERY POCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drapery pocket for concealed support of a drapery track, and particularly to a drapery pocket providing track support, ceiling tile retention and through-pocket ventilation.

2. Description of the Prior Art Modern office buildings and like structures often utilize large plate glass windows which extend to ceiling level. In such buildings, the ceiling itself may comprise acoustic tile supported in a frame suspended suffrciently below the structural frame so as to permit hidden installation of lighting fixtures, air conditioning ducts and utility conduits.

For optimum attractiveness, draperies covering such windows should be hung from tracks recessed in the ceiling or otherwise concealed from view. Installation of recessed tracks in the past has been difficult, requiring special hardware, independent of that used to sup port the ceiling tile. Such recessed tracks typically were hidden by custom fitted panels, thereby adding considerably to the difficulty and cost of drapery installation.

The present invention provides a unitary drapery pocket which combines concealed drapery track support with ceiling tile retention. Further, the device may be apertured to permit ventilation therethrough, e.g., to provide an air conditioning return path or for window defogging. The inventive drapery pocket, which is inexpensive and easy to install, thus satisfies a need unfulfilled by the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a drapery pocket for concealed support of a drapery track. The drapery pocket may comprise a unitary, elongate metal extrusion providing combined drapery track support, ceiling tile retention and through-pocket ventilation.

In a preferred embodiment, the drapery pocket includes a fastening plate attachable to a window-top frame member inside a building. A drapery track support panel extends horizontally from the fastening plate and may be multi-apertured for ventilation therethrough.

Ceiling tile is supported below the level of the drapery track by a retaining panel projecting downward from the support panel interior edge. The retaining panel may have a generally T- or L-shaped crosssection respectively for support of kerfed ceiling tile or for lay-in unkerfed tile. The retaining panel also may extend above the support panel to facilitate wired attachment of the drapery pocket to the building frame.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved, unitary drapery pocket combining concealed drapery track support, ceiling tile retention and through-pocket ventilation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts in the several figures. These drawings, unless described as diagrammatic or unless otherwise indicated, are to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the inventive drapery pocket shown installed in a building adjacent a window.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive drapery pocket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention best is defined by the appended claims.

Structural and operational characteristics attributed to forms of the invention first described also shall be attributed to forms later described unless such characteristics obviously are inapplicable or unless specific exception is made.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a unitary drapery pocket 10 adapted for concealed support of a conventional drapery track 11. Drapery pocket 10 typically may be in stalled against a frame member 12 atop a window 13 and accordingly comprises a vertical fastening plate 14 attached to frame member 12 by means of screws 15. A drapery track support panel 16 extends horizontally from the bottom edge of fastening plate 14. Drapery track 11 is attached to the underside of panel 16 by means of metal screws 17 or other fasteners.

Projecting vertically from support panel interior edge 16a is a ceiling tile retaining panel 18. Panel 18 supports conventional acoustic ceiling tile 19 at a level below the bottom of drapery track 11, thus effectively concealing track 11 from the view of a person standing within the room. A section 18a of retaining panel 18 may project above support panel 16 to facilitate attachment of drapery pocket 10 to the structural ceiling by means of wires 20 through holes 21 in panel section 180.

Retaining panel 18 may have the generally T-shaped cross-section shown in FIG. 1, including a projection 18b adapted for mating engagement with the kerf 19a of ceiling tile 19. An optional flange along the bottom edge of retaining panel 18 hides any unsightly irregularities along the edge of tile 19. In an alternative embodiment (FIG. 2), drapery pocket 10' includes a retaining panel 18' having a generally L-shaped crosssection. A bottom edge flange 180' provides lay-in support for unkerfed ceiling tile 19.

Referring again to FIG. 1, support panel 16 may be provided with multiple slots or apertures 22. Apertures 22 permit ventilation through drapery pocket 10 and thus may be used, e.g., as an air conditioning return vent. Note that drapery track fastening screws 17 may project through some of apertures 22.

Optionally, retaining panel 18 may include ventilating holes 23, shown in phantom in FIG. 1, below the level of support panel 16. In another embodiment (not shown), apertures 22 may be provided across only a portion of support panel 16, and used for forced air defogging of window 13. Alternatively, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, drapery track support panel 16' may have no ventilation apertures whatever.

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, I make the following claims:

1. An elongate, extruded, unitary drapery pocket, Y

comprising:

a. a fastening plate vertically attachable to the interior frame of a building,

b. a drapery track support panel extending horizontally from said fastening plate, said support panel being multi-apertured to permit ventilation therethrough, said support panel accommodating the attachment of a drapery track to the underside thereof using fasteners extending through some of said apertures, with sufficient apertures remaining uncovered by said track to permit the flow of ventilating air through said pocket between a drapery supported by said track and said building interior frame and c. a ceiling tile retaining panel projecting vertically from said support panel to retain ceiling tile at a drapery track concealing level below said support panel, a section of said retaining panel extending upwardly from said support panel for wired attachment to said building frame.

2. A drapery pocket as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining panel has a generally T-shaped crosssection for retention of kerfed ceiling tile.

3. A drapery pocket as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining panel has a generally L-shaped crosssection forming a shelf for lay-in of ceiling tile.

4. A drapery pocket as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining panel is slotted to permit ventilation therethrough.

5. In combination,

a drapery pocket as defined in claim 1,

a drapery track attached to the underside of said drapery track support panel, and

ceiling tile horizontally supported by said retaining panel below the level of said drapery track.

6. A drapery pocket as defined in claim I wherein said apertures are aligned in rows, together with a drapery track attached to the underside of said drapery track support panel by self-tapping screws extending into some of said apertures.

7. [n a drapery support installation interior of a building, the combination comprising:

an elongate, unitary drapery pocket having a fastening plate vertically attached to frame members of said building, a drapery track support panel extending horizontally from said fastening plate, said support panel being multi-slotted for ventilation therethrough, and a ceiling tile retaining member having a cross-section configured to support acoustic ceiling tile and vertically attached to said support panel, a portion of said retaining member projecting above said support panel for wired attachment to said building,

a drapery track fastened to the underside of said sup port panel by fasteners extending through some of said slots, sufficient slots remaining uncovered by said track to permit the flow of ventilating air between a drapery supported by said track and a building window adjacent said pocket, and

acoustic ceiling tile horizontally supported by said retaining panel at a drapery track concealing level below said support panel. 

1. An elongate, extruded, unitary drapery pocket, comprising: a. a fastening plate vertically attachable to the interior frame of a building, b. a drapery track support panel extending horizontally from said fastening plate, said support panel bEing multi-apertured to permit ventilation therethrough, said support panel accommodating the attachment of a drapery track to the underside thereof using fasteners extending through some of said apertures, with sufficient apertures remaining uncovered by said track to permit the flow of ventilating air through said pocket between a drapery supported by said track and said building interior frame and c. a ceiling tile retaining panel projecting vertically from said support panel to retain ceiling tile at a drapery track concealing level below said support panel, a section of said retaining panel extending upwardly from said support panel for wired attachment to said building frame.
 2. A drapery pocket as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining panel has a generally T-shaped cross-section for retention of kerfed ceiling tile.
 3. A drapery pocket as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining panel has a generally L-shaped cross-section forming a shelf for lay-in of ceiling tile.
 4. A drapery pocket as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining panel is slotted to permit ventilation therethrough.
 5. In combination, a drapery pocket as defined in claim 1, a drapery track attached to the underside of said drapery track support panel, and ceiling tile horizontally supported by said retaining panel below the level of said drapery track.
 6. A drapery pocket as defined in claim 1 wherein said apertures are aligned in rows, together with a drapery track attached to the underside of said drapery track support panel by self-tapping screws extending into some of said apertures.
 7. In a drapery support installation interior of a building, the combination comprising: an elongate, unitary drapery pocket having a fastening plate vertically attached to frame members of said building, a drapery track support panel extending horizontally from said fastening plate, said support panel being multi-slotted for ventilation therethrough, and a ceiling tile retaining member having a cross-section configured to support acoustic ceiling tile and vertically attached to said support panel, a portion of said retaining member projecting above said support panel for wired attachment to said building, a drapery track fastened to the underside of said support panel by fasteners extending through some of said slots, sufficient slots remaining uncovered by said track to permit the flow of ventilating air between a drapery supported by said track and a building window adjacent said pocket, and acoustic ceiling tile horizontally supported by said retaining panel at a drapery track concealing level below said support panel. 